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The effects of Hurricane Katrina aren’t confined to the Gulf Coast. Most of the United States depends on oil and gas exploration, drilling and refining operations in the Gulf of Mexico and almost as soon as the storm surge from the Category 4 hurricane receded last week, gas prices escalated across the nation.
To a certain extent, the price hikes were understandable, and anticipated. However, at least half of the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico have returned to full production and a good part of the refineries where oil becomes gasoline and other petroleum products are back on line. Prices of petroleum products, including gasoline, should have started to pull back by now. They haven’t, as a look at gasoline prices at any service station will indicate.
State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, like a number of other attorneys general, is giving the matter serious scrutiny, asking 65 gas stations across the state for information on gasoline prices. Investigators in the attorney general’s office are asking why prices have increased so much and if the price hikes have been warranted. The gas stations had until this past Monday to report what they're paying for fuel.
Federal legislators are also hearing from consumers about high gas prices and many are calling for the Federal Trade Commission to investigate possible price gouging. Other lawmakers in and outside New York have called for state and federal governments to suspend their taxes on gas. The New York state senate plans to return for a special session later this month to consider a rollback of the state gasoline tax. State taxes vary, but the federal government collects 18.4 cents for every gallon of gas sold. Rolling back both New York state and federal levies would save gas consumers about 28 cents a gallon.
We appreciate that oil companies and governmental agencies are not responsible for natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and that fossil fuel, like just about everything else on this planet, is subject to the laws of supply and demand. We also are very much aware that oil drillers and refiners suffered losses during and after the storm and in many cases must recoup those losses in order to stay in business and keep employees on the payroll, let alone make a profit. And yes, the costs sustained by oil companies getting their drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and their refineries in the Gulf Coast states and elsewhere back on line have of necessity to be passed along, ultimately to the consumer.
However, in this kind of situation it seems to us that the consumer bears proportionately a heavier burden in the aftermath of catastrophes such as Katrina. Here in the tri-state area, consumer goods of every kind are brought in by truck. Rising fuel costs mean higher prices for everything from cabbages to shoes. Many people are, commendably, electing to leave their cars at home and use public transportation, but buses are still powered by internal combustion engines. The subways of this city run on electricity generated mostly at fossil fuel-burning plants. Many of the boilers that heat houses and apartment buildings, schools, offices and stores burn oil. If landlords have to pay more for fuel oil, so, too, will their tenants, be they residential or commercial. Rising oil prices will affect everyone.
Rolling back the state gasoline tax, at least temporarily, will relieve consumers of some of the burden, however slightly. The rollbacks need not be permanent. Governments need revenues in order to function, we know. But lifting some of the burden from the consumer, however short the term of such relief, will enable consumers to buy goods and services and bring down prices. A storm-battered economy will get a badly needed shot in the arm.


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Business and Finance
Scarpelli offers high praise for dealer lobbyingMarch 23
Outgoing NADA Chairman Mark Scarpelli said dealers can be proud of their lobbying efforts over the last year, which protected the affordability of the automobile and the profitability of auto dealerships in a tumultuous political year.
A chat on the show floorMarch 23
Subaru of America CEO Tom Doll, left, talks with 2017 NADA Chairman Mark Scarpelli, center, and 2018 NADA Vice Chairman Charlie Gilchrist Friday at the Subaru exhibit. Subaru of America is working toward its 10th consecutive year of record U.S. light-vehicle sales.
Expect a sales plateau — a healthy oneMarch 23
6 Ford dealers honored for service to their communitiesMarch 23
'18 Time dealer is SalzmanMarch 23
North Carolina auto dealer Jack Salzman is the 2018 Time Dealer of the Year. He received the award Friday at the convention. Other finalists were Brent Brown of Utah, William Fenton of New Hampshire and Wally Sommer of Wisconsin.

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ST. LOUIS, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Fyndus LLC, a St. Louis-based, global e-commerce company, announced today that Joseph W. Blankshain was named President of the company effective April 1, 2018.
In his new role, Blankshain will oversee the daily management of the Fyndus domestic and international operations. A technology veteran and start-up entrepreneur, Blankshain’s extensive business experience and senior management leadership roles involve working with 2-the-Mart, the precursor to eBay; TRW DSSG, Bell Labs, Motorola, multiple early stage, high growth organizations and other Fortune 100 companies.
Affan Waheed, Fyndus founder & CEO, said, “We are thrilled to have Joe lead our domestic and global operations. His diverse business, technology and financial service experiences will help us achieve our goals by accelerating our expansion into more countries by creating more merchant partnerships bringing the best possible prices for local services and products available for Fyndus consumers.”
Founded in 2016, Fyndus has experienced year-over-year revenue growth with plans to expand into European, Middle Eastern and Pacific Rim countries over the next 12 months. Currently, Fyndus is operational in six countries, has close to 300,000 users, and has an active presence in nine countries.
“This platform is one of the best combinations of how users can find the best prices on local products and services along with offering merchants the opportunity to generate revenue by advertising their product or service without a significant financial commitment,” said Blankshain.
Fyndus, LLC, is the global leader that changes the consumer retail shopping experience with brick and mortar, and e-commerce using an app to find the best deals in merchandise, service and local dining. Fyndus is different from other e-commerce platforms because it rewards buying behavior patterns, provides savings to buyers by eliminating the middleman, and offers merchants and service providers the tools to better manage the consumer buying experience. With headquarters based in St. Louis, Missouri and offices located internationally throughout Europe and the Middle East, Fyndus is changing the way people shop globally, save money, and help local businesses thrive. Fyndus…Discover. Shop. Save! To learn more, please visit https://Fyndus.com.


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The product, which Baidu says is targeting 8% annual returns, will be part of cooperation with China Asset Management (Hong Kong) Ltd. The minimum investment for the product will be only 1 yuan ($0.16).
The company also said it would eventually cooperate with other financial institutions to offer investment opportunities to customers, who it said search for terms like 'finance' on Baidu's search engine--by far China's most popular--many millions of times each day.
Baidu's new financial services arm, which will be formally introduced on Oct. 28, comes as its two larger rivals--Alibaba and Tencent Holdings Ltd. (0700.HK) -- have moved increasingly to connect their large numbers of users with investment and other financial products.
Just last week, the top management at Alibaba's finance affiliate said the company would cooperate with financial institutions to expand its offerings of financial products.
The executives also downplayed concerns about China's financial regulators curtailing moves by private Internet firms into the sector. Tencent confirmed earlier this month that it was a minority shareholder in a consortium formed to seek a banking license from the Chinese government.
Though Baidu declined to elaborate on the product, the low minimum investment and the marketing to regular online users resembles a service Alibaba introduced in May. That service lets users with money stored online on Alipay, which allows users to make direct transactions online, invest in a fund pegged to corporate debt and government bonds.
The rash of financial services come in a market in which Chinese investors, particularly those with modest savings, have had limited low-risk investment opportunities. Some have worried that the rapid expansion by private companies like Alibaba and Baidu into a sector dominated by state-run banks and protected by conservative regulators could lead to problems as entrenched interests in the sector fight back against the competition.
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Following are the latest 2015 digital media trends and the latest information you should be listening to. Some of these trends are becoming reality.
This probably featured on almost every list of predictions for 2014 yet we haven’t seen the mass uptake that was expected at the end of 2013. GfK reported 420,000 wearables were sold in the UK 2014; the majority being health trackers and bracelets. 2015 looks set to be the year that wearables, more specifically smart-watches, really takeoff. Apple will release its own watch at some point in 2015 and many other companies will be putting out second and third generation products with improved battery life and functionality. Smartwatches will become a new platform to reach always-on consumers. (With the Apple Watch released on April 2015, we see this trend is being real.)
Online video is huge. The average Brit now spends five hours a week watching TV, video clips and films online according to the IAB. This surge has been down to the uptake of smartphones and tablets, and as screen sizes become bigger and mobile internet speeds get faster, video viewing on mobile is only going to increase. IAB has provided various new engaging video ads that captured the interest of the mobile users. YouTube revealed last year that half of all its video views now originate from a mobile device.
For marketers this means that using video is crucial, and making sure this works on mobile even more so. Research also shows that moving video to mobile platforms increases reach without impacting spend.
Over the last two years, interest in native advertising has increased dramatically, and the money has followed. According to the IAB, in the first half of 2014 content and native advertising stood at £216m and accounted for a fifth of the overall UK display advertising total. Business Intelligence predicts that spending on native will continue for the foreseeable future. But where will the additional money come from? Some are suggesting that spend will be taken out of banner advertising to meet the demand.
Native is an attractive prospect for marketers, but they will have to be careful how they utilize it. Research shows that 21% of UK consumers have mistaken a native ad for editorial content, and a further 30% are unsure if they have, which inevitably leads to annoyed customers. (You can learn more about native advertising through these set of links:
1. Wikipedia – Native Advertising
2. Infographics on Native Advertising
3. What is Native Advertising? (ShareThrough.com)
4. Native Ads Part Deux: The Growth of Open Native Advertising
Along with the home, this year you will see the rise in ownership of connected cars and media consumption within them. Demand is rising, with research reporting 50% of global drivers saying connected car features will be critical when buying their next car. Both Android and Apple have in-car operating systems which will start to appear in certain manufacturer’s new cars next year.
Media consumption within cars will increase in 2015; Spotify is already available as an app, news headlines from your favourite apps will be narrated to you, podcasting services will be able to sync across devices so you can get in your car and carry on listening from where you left off on your phone.
In-car advertising for marketers will become a lot more sophisticated. Location, make and model, even distance driven could potentially be used to target the right audience.
Personal content distribution
With more content being produced, this year you will see more experimentation with how it is distributed. Apps such SnapChat and WhatsApp have been experimented with by news providers this year. These apps offer a more personal means of communication than something like a push notification and are ideal for reaching a younger target audience.
Also look for podcasts to continue their “renaissance” in mid 2015, particularly their usage in content marketing.
Print and digital-only propositions
In the digital world, it might sometimes be easy to forget about print, both as a content distribution channel and advertising platform. However there are signs that more print publications might show up from traditionally digital-only companies next year. Travel site Airbnb previously launched a quarterly magazine (named as Pineapple), and the largest tech website in the world, CNET, has also done the same. Digital-only business are realizing that the future is the multi-platform, and this includes print. Print is very effective for targeting readers, engagement rates are often very high, understanding the readership is relatively easy and ad recall tends to be higher than online. We could see more print launches throughout 2015 from digital organisations.
Despite smartphone penetration standing around 70% (source: nVision) very few of us are using our mobiles to pay in-store. We will start to see this change in 2015 as NFC payments become more widely available in retailers and on phones, and Apple Pay launches in the UK. Research reveals that UK payments value will increase by more than 50% in 2015 and millennial are most open to using this type of technology with 48% saying they would like to use it.
With the launch of Zapp which will allow users to make mobile payments via their bank account and is backed by several UK banks. (This app is available within the UK at the moment – Shown below).
Super Fast & Ultra-HD Streaming Internet
Since 2011, Google has been rolling out its Fiber internet, with download speeds of up to 100 times faster than that of today’s conventional broadband. In 2015, Google will roll this out to even more US cities, but it has recently denied rumors of a UK launch. These sorts of download speeds have many implications for users, but one such trend we will start to see in 2015 is true high-definition streaming in 1080p and even 4K. Amazon Prime and Netflix are starting to offer streaming in 4K, and as prices of 4K TVs start to reduce there will be an increase in ultra-high-definition viewing in the home.
With more content being produced, in 2015 you will see more experimentation with how it is distributed. Apps such SnapChat and WhatsApp have been experimented with by news providers this year. These apps offer a more personal means of communication than something like a push notification and are ideal for reaching a younger target audience.
Also look for podcasts to continue their “renaissance” during 2015, particularly their usage in content marketing.


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Manchester United may be going through a barren period in terms of goals and points but its stature as a financial global powerhouse remains undiminished as brands continue to line up to sponsor the club. The latest to align its brand with the club is the Malta Tourism Authority which has signed up as the official destination partner of the club with the creative activations handled by the Dublin-based Oliver Ireland.
As creative agency for the Malta Tourism Authority, Oliver Ireland’s animated Visit Malta advertisements will appear at Old Trafford, Manchester United’s home stadium, as well as on the club’s various media portals throughout the season.
According to Oliver’s managing director, Mark McCann: “This deal presented an excellent opportunity for the Oliver team to work closely with our client the Malta Tourism Authority and Manchester United to create this campaign, which will be seen by billions worldwide.”
Oliver is part of the Inside Ideas Group (IIG) which comprises Dare, Adjust Your Set, Aylesworth Fleming and OLIVER. Earlier this year the brandtech giant You and Mr Jones acquired a majority stake in IIG in January, delivering a unique new solution for global brands looking to modernise and improve their marketing and advertising.
Since the Oliver Ireland was established eight years ago, it has worked with some of Ireland’s biggest companies and local brands including Bank of Ireland, BMW, Britvic, Lidl, Ryanair and Virgin Media. The agency offers an array of bespoke creative services including design, videography and digital media solutions, aimed at disrupting the traditional agency format. The agency employs 60 people in Ireland.


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In a bid to expand its home networking product line, Cisco Systems
announced today that it will pay $61 million in cash and stock
for Denmark-based KiSS Technology.
The San Jose, Calif., equipment vendor said KiSS’ platform, which is used in
DVD players and recorders, provides access to content on the Internet or
other devices in a home network.
The technology will help Cisco’s Linksys division develop an entertainment
suite for its consumer and small-business customers.
“KiSS has emerged as a leader in networked video and audio products in
Europe and we hope to use that expertise to expand worldwide,” Charlie
Giancarlo, president of Cisco-Linksys, said in a statement.
Cisco, citing research from In-Stat, said the purchase takes advantage of an
According to the IT research firm, the networked entertainment market is
expected to grow from $3.9 billion in revenue at the end of 2004 to $16.1
billion by 2009. In addition, In-Stat estimates that networked entertainment
devices will be in more than 38 percent of home networks by 2009.
KiSS, which stands for Keep it Simple Solutions, was founded in 1994 and is
Cisco will continue to support KiSS products and the KiSS brand will stand
for now, Elizabeth McNichols, a Cisco spokeswoman, told
“Right now, KiSS is only sold in Europe,” said McNichols, who noted that the
network entertainment products have caught on faster in Europe than the
United States. “We’ll continue to monitor the branding.”
The deal is expected to close by the end of October, she said. When it does,
KiSS’ 65 employees will join Cisco’s Linksys division.
Today’s deal is the second buy to augment Linksys. In April, it paid $68 million for consumer Voice over IP
technology provider Sipura Technologies.
More broadly, Cisco said the purchase fits with its acquisition strategy of
picking up companies that will bring new technologies, intellectual
property and speed time-to-market for its products.
Under this approach, Cisco has been buying smaller companies than it did
during the Internet boom of the late 1990s. For example, the company has been snapping up firms in the storage sector over the last year, as well.


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Arts, crafts and food vendors are being sought to participate in Mountain Heritage Day, Western Carolina University’s annual fall festival of traditional Appalachian culture.
This year’s Mountain Heritage Day will be held Saturday, Sept. 24, on the WCU campus in Cullowhee. The festival typically attracts more than 20,000 visitors who come to enjoy two stages of continuous music and dance, exhibitions of Cherokee stickball and shapenote singing, a midway of juried arts and crafts, and home-style food.
The festival arts and crafts are judged for quality of workmanship, booth display and design. Cash awards will be presented to the vendors with the best works.


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FOCUS: Umicore’s moves to secure battery materials chain reassure oversupplied cobalt market
Opportunities to lock in long-term sales of cobalt hydroxide – and diversify a customer base outside of China in the process – are too appealing to pass by in a market still feeling the effects of a ramp-up in intermediates supply.
Earlier this week, Umicore and Glencore announced a long-term revolving agreement for the latter to supply cobalt hydroxide to the former’s global operations.
This follows last week’s news that the cobalt refining and cathode precursor business at Kokkola in Finland will change hands from Freeport Cobalt to Umicore by the end of the year.
The Belgian battery materials manufacturer last week signed an agreement to buy the refinery for $150 million, to underpin the growth of its battery materials business over the next few years.
While some of the Glencore hydroxide units will find their way into Kokkola, China Molybdenum (CMOC) will continue to supply material from the Tenke copper-cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo into Kokkola as well.
“We will remain suppliers to Freeport Cobalt as outlined by the previous contract in the short term, and are likely to supply materials to the refinery after Umicore’s deal with Freeport Cobalt is closed,” according a source at CMOC.
According to market sources, CMOC supplies more than 10,000 tonnes of cobalt hydroxide into Kokkola per year, though the company declined to comment on the precise volumes.
Kokkola has total cobalt refining capacity of 15,000 tonnes per annum, and produced 12,900 tonnes of cobalt in 2018, according to trading house Darton Commodities.
When CMOC purchased Freeport’s stake in the holding company for the Tenke mine in 2016, it placed more cobalt in Chinese hands, just as the country was gearing up to produce chemicals for use in electric vehicles (EVs) and consumer electronics.
At that time, CMOC might have been keen to diversify its customer base and place its units elsewhere to take advantage of rising prices against a bullish backdrop for future demand.
According to forecasts from Fastmarkets’ battery raw materials research team, demand for cobalt from the EV sector will reach 63,000 tonnes by 2025, when EV sales will reach about 17 million units.
With such forecasts in mind, prices for standard-grade cobalt metal – the benchmark typically used across the cobalt supply chain – rallied to near ten-year highs of $43.70-44.45 per lb, in-warehouse, in April 2018, on the back of expectations of demand from the battery sector.
But since CMOC’s purchase in 2016, extra cobalt hydroxide units have come on stream. Glencore’s Katanga is expected to produce about 26,000 tonnes of cobalt in 2019, while ERG’s Roan Tailings Reclamation (RTR) project is ramping up to 14,000 tonnes.
Fastmarkets analysts expect a 16,000-tonne cobalt overhang in 2020; the anticipated increase in demand from the e-mobility sector – that fueled much of the rally in 2017 and 2018 – has yet to be converted into consumption.
Benchmark standard-grade cobalt metal prices were last assessed by Fastmarkets on Wednesday May 29 at $15.35-16.10 per lb, in-warehouse, down by 64.3% from last April’s highs, and down by 42.3% compared with the beginning of the year.
Cobalt payables in the spot market – where Chinese buyers have had a preference to buy their intermediates units of late – stand at 67-69% of the standard-grade low, according to Fastmarkets’ assessment. Payables will next be assessed on May 31.
By comparison, long-term supply contracts were agreed at 85% and above of the metal’s price for 2018 contracts.
CMOC did not comment on the payables it receives for Tenke cobalt hydroxide supplied to Kokkola, though multiple sources said they are likely to be more appealing to the company now than before given the vulnerable payables amid an apparent oversupply dynamics projected for the next few years.
With that in mind – and with Katanga and RTR units coming into the market – CMOC might rather hold on to its Kokkola supply contract.
“In this kind of market, you’d much rather have a confirmed outlet for your units,” one trading source told Fastmarkets.
Geographically, sales to Kokkola have the appeal of diversifying a customer base outside China, where hydroxide demand has largely retreated to spot or shorter-term contracts.
While the autonomy to place Tenke units elsewhere might once have seemed appealing, such a move now would serve to increase competition for sales in China, to the detriment of payables, sources said.
“China’s demand for cobalt hasn’t been that great [recently] and one big player is enough to satisfy demand,” a second trading source said. “Cobalt hydroxide payables in China are likely to move lower if the major miners and smaller producers are all competing.”
Others likewise, including Glencore, might be just as keen to supply to Umicore, not just for the opportunity to lock in a sale of considerable volume, but again, for the opportunity to diversify their customer base outside China.
China has dictated the direction and extent of price moves in the cobalt market for the greater portion of the past year, most recently, its cautious sentiment capping gains on a rally in metal prices stemming from Europe.
The lingering softness in Chinese cobalt sulfate prices, a key indicator for market sentiment, is likely to feature heavily in negotiations between cobalt hydroxide suppliers and Chinese refineries who are close to break-even levels.
Fastmarkets’ Chinese cobalt sulfate, 20.5% Co basis, was assessed at 42,000-44,000 yuan ($6,074-6,364) per tonne on May 29, down by 35.3% from the beginning of this year.
Cobalt prices illustrate a market that is oversupplied, and according to Fastmarkets’ research, will remain so over the next few years.
On the other hand, Umicore’s Kokkola purchase is designed to make sure it can meet growing demand for its cathode materials, while its Glencore deal ensures security of supply as its own raw materials requirements increase.
Those two things are a bullish sign that the EV story and its associated cobalt demand extend beyond China.
Join members of Fastmarkets’ cobalt price reporting and research team for a web seminar on Tuesday June 18 at 9.30am London time to discuss recent price moves in the cobalt market and how industry developments might affect the market going forward. Click here to register now.


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The big picture: Early estimates suggest Uber could be prepared to raise as much as $10 billion.
As ride-hailing major Uber filed its initial public offering (IPO) prospectus on Friday, India has been listed as its fifth largest market outside the USA in terms of total miles of rides covered (30 million miles).
Uber in 2018 had $11.3 billion revenue, increasing 42 percent over 2017, but less than the 106 percent growth the prior year.
Disney unveiled more details about its upcoming streaming service. It also revealed invaluable information about Uber's past operations.
J. Crew announced that it's exploring a potential IPO for its Madewell clothing brand.
Outside the US-Canada combine, according to the miles of rides covered, Europe is the largest market (271 million) for Uber followed by Latin America (94 million), Japan/South Korea (79 million), and Middle East & Africa (74 million).
The S-1 filing underscores Uber's rapid growth in the last three years but also how a string of public scandals and increased competition from rivals have weighed on its plans to attract and retain riders.
The breakdown reveals Uber has been producing.
The IPO was estimated to sell around $10 billion worth of stock at a valuation between $90 billion and $100 billion, according to reports.
"We will not shy away from making short-term financial sacrifices where we see clear long-term benefits", he said.
Although Uber has not announced its official price range per share, the company has already raised nearly $20bn in investment rounds, totaling Uber's valuation at nearly $120bn. Uber applied to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "UBER".
Uber's business includes other services; for example, Uber Eats, Uber Freight, and dockless e-bike and e-scooter rentals.
Uber said its market share fell in most regions a year ago, although the rate of decline has slowed. Its fast-growing food delivery business, which spans 500 cities globally, doubled its revenue to $757 million in 2018 from $367 million in 2017. Now it will be up to the successor, Khosrowshahi of Kalanick, to convince investors who Uber has cleaned up its act and values that a market value greater than Ford Motor and General Motors combined.
The blowback from the problems helped Lyft pick up ground in the USA - something Uber acknowledged in its filing - and led to the ouster of Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick as CEO in 2017. It established its very first test automobile that was self-driving in 2016 and its own vehicle division has more than 1,000 employees, and more than 250 cars have been built by it so far.
"We believe that autonomous vehicle technologies will enable a product that competes with the cost of personal vehicle ownership and usage, and represents the future of transportation", Uber's filing said. Uber notes that Waymo has already introduced a limited ride-hailing service in Arizona, and concedes that other competitors could launch similar services before Uber can do the same. Alphabet also owns approximately 5% of Lyft's stock.


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Mar 29, 2015 (LBO) – Facebook annual developer conference kicked off in San Francisco recently unleashed more than 25 products and tools to help its developers build, grow, and monetize mobile apps.
The event attracted more than 2,500 developers around the world to build the next generation of apps.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivering the keynote address highlighted three themes of this year: Putting people first, giving people more options to connect through the Facebook family of apps, and previewing the future of sharing.
Facebook provides connections between every mobile platform and a potential audience of 1.39 billion people.
A list of most significant products and tools announced at the conference:
Messenger Platform — Introducing a new way for apps to integrate with Messenger so people can better express themselves with GIFs, photos, videos, audio clips and more. For developers, this means more opportunities for growth and engagement.
Businesses on Messenger — Previewing the first steps we’re taking to reinvent the way people communicate and interact with businesses.
New Share Sheet — A simple, consistent experience for sharing from apps to Facebook.
buy azithromycin online buy azithromycin online no prescription
Facebook Analytics for Apps — Facebook Analytics for Apps helps developers build better apps and experiences for people. Developers now have a single place where they can understand their audience, measure how people use their app across devices and improve their marketing campaigns.
LiveRail— Mobile app publishers can now use LiveRail’s monetization platform to manage their video and display ads business. Additionally, LiveRail is enabling publishers to use Facebook’s approach for delivering the right ad to the right audience—meaning better results and better experiences for people.
Internet of Things — Developers can now easily use Parse to build a whole new category of apps for connected devices, from garage door openers to smoke detectors to wearable wristbands.
Social Plugins — Refreshed Social Plugins with updated designs and better mobile experiences that will help people engage with content off Facebook. The Embedded Video Player is an entirely new social plugin that lets publishers embed native Facebook videos in a full-bleed video player. People can now watch and interact with Facebook videos from anywhere on the web.
Spherical Video Coming to News Feed — Previewing an immersive, 360-degree video experience in News Feed that lets you choose the viewing angle to explore your surroundings.


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Announcing our Next Game: Mechanosaur Hijacks the Moon
That's it! We're officially announcing our next game:
Mechanosaur Hijacks the Moon
Moreover, the beta is going to begin soon, for a planned release in roughly one month!
You can already register for beta, which will be ran through Apple's Testflight, by contacting us at:
More info are coming soon. Meanwhile, here's a teaser!


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We all are super excited to see the Samsung’s first foldable phone ever. We have already heard a lot of rumors about the Foldable Galaxy X. Even though some of the leaks have unveiled the most astonishing features of this upcoming phone. Recently, a new report from “The Wall Street Journal” showed up. The report revealed that Samsung is planning to release its first foldable phone next year.
Samsung will release Foldable Galaxy X next year
Rumors about a foldable Samsung phone have swirled for years. The nickname of this phone was the Galaxy X. The long-rumored foldable Samsung smartphone will be released next year according to a report made by “The Wall Street Journal“. It will have a 7-inch screen. The Samsung’s greatest innovation will be that Galaxy X will fold in half like a wallet. The Wall Street Journal further revealed that the device will have a smaller display on the front when it’s folded in half. This is quite visible in the leaked pictures of Galaxy X.
Patents have suggested that the phone would be closer to the size of a tablet when it’s unfolded, and would be thicker than most current smartphones. Samsung is also planning to release a Bixby-enabled smart speaker to compete with Apple’s HomePod. So, in short, Samsung is trying its best to compete with Apple by making a strong come back with the release of their first ever foldable smartphone.
However, in some of the previous reports, the Bell has also revealed that Samsung will finalize the design of Galaxy X in June. This means that Samsung’s Goal is to release the Galaxy X in 2019. In this new report, it is now confirmed that the phone will release next year. The phone would likely cost more than $1,500 according to the report. Let’s see what will be the new strategies of Samsung to make this phone worth buying.


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The rich do not create jobs. They fill the opening after demand for products creates an opening for jobs. To create demand, consumers need money to buy products. Some ways to provide that would be to raise the minimum wage, keep paying unemployment benefits and the government spending on roads and infrastructure.
The Republican mantra says the tax cuts for the rich will create jobs. Without demand for products, they invest their money overseas and keep it. How many billions is enough?
Jay LevsenCedar Rapids


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What started out as a normal trip to the grocery store soon turned into a nightmare for mom Amanda Cropsey Florczykowski. She wrote about her experience in a Facebook post to help other parents learn the warning signs of a potentially dangerous situation.
“I’m convinced that our two-year-old daughter was the victim of a potential sex-trafficking scam yesterday,” she wrote, going on to tell the story of how a couple came up to her and her 2-year-old daughter when they were in line to check out at the grocery store and things quickly took a chilling turn.
“The couple ahead struck up the typical conversation about how ‘cute your daughter is’ and then asked about her age, repeatedly,” she said. At first she thought it was their language barrier that was leading to all of their questions, but she quickly grew uncomfortable with the whole situation.
Amanda wrote about how the woman asked to hold her daughter and then resisted when she tried to get her back. Then she heard the woman say four words that sent chills up her spine:
“Say bye to mommy.”


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Max Windsor Acquired by Peter Spirer Group
Adairsville, GA, March 24, 2014 -- Hardwood firm Max Windsor Floors has been purchased by industry veteran Peter Spirer and two colleagues for an undisclosed price.
The new Company, The Max Windsor Group, will be headquartered in Adairsville and will continue to do business as Max Windsor Floors.
Previously located in Rancho Cucamonga, the company's California distribution center and offices have been moved to Commerce, California.
The company is a hardwood supplier to major retailers across the country.
Spirer, who is the company's new CEO, has a career in flooring that spans nearly six decades, during which he was an original inductee into the Floor Covering Industry Hall of Fame, and served twice as chairman of the Carpet & Rug Institute.
A slate of officers and key managers for Max Windsor Floors includes David Cicchinelli, vice president of marketing, Adrian Van Raalten, vice president of the Western Region, Brian Wang, vice president of operations, and Amanda Abercrombie, eastern operations manager.
"The last year was somewhat chaotic for the company, as the ownership
decided it was time to sell, Spirer said.
"This provided a great opportunity for my partners and me to purchase the franchise."
Spirer said he plans to reinforce the company's commitment to flooring specialty retailers.
"Our intention is to be the retailer's most profitable line of wood products. We don't offer our line to Lumber Liquidators or big boxes, and we don't sell to internet dealers. The neighborhood specialty store is Max Windsor's future; we know who's running him out of business, and we will make it a point to see him prosper, at least in the hardwood sector."


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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Charlotte Independence became the latest USL club to introduce its own signature beer on Tuesday, with its 1775 Pale Ale collaboration with NoDa Brewing being unveiled at the local brewer’s Tryon St. taproom.
For Independence goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra, who is currently with the club on loan from the Colorado Rapids and is also a home-brewer, the chance to get an up-close look at the creation of the club’s official beer was an enjoyable one.
“It’s really cool,” said Dykstra in a video piece accompanying the announcement. “I’ve always wanted to know more about it and I’ve been lucky to link up with NoDa Brewing Company to see what they do behind the scenes and getting to watch them dry-hop some beer today.”
1775 Pale Ale refers to the date of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, which is also commemorated on the Independence’s crest. Following the opening of Jack’s House at the club’s new offices on Elizabeth Avenue this month, the club’s official beer will give fans something enjoyable for gameday.
“That’s pretty much a classic American pale ale,” said NoDa’s Head Brewer Bart Roberts. “We used some newer hops like El Dorado and some really old-school, pungent hops like Simcoe to give it a nice, refreshing bitterness to it. It’s going to be really aromatic, and it’s going to be an awesome beer, especially for watching soccer.”


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MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: Sales by Bharti Walmart, the wholesale cash-and-carry joint venture, to Bharti Retail, the entity that operates front-end stores, have come under the lens after suggestions from the company that it may be in breach of the prescribed foreign investment rules.
Bharti Walmart India CEO Raj Jain has told an enquiry committee headed by Justice Mukul Mudgal that the wholesaler, which is authorized to sell to kirana shops, restaurants and canteens, was deriving around 40% of its turnover through sales to Bharti Retail.
The FDI rules, while allowing wholesale trading of goods among companies of the same group, mandates that sales, taken together, should not exceed 25% of the total turnover of the wholesale venture.
The Mudgal committee was set up after allegations that Walmart paid money and lobbied to get the Indian government to allow FDI in multi-brand retail. Scot Price, the head of Walmart's Asia operations, denied the allegations when he was called to depose before the panel.
Jain's statement had stirred a debate within the panel which is now expected to send a questionnaire to Bharti Walmart, with the department of industrial policy and promotion representative in the committee suggesting that the rules may have been violated. But Jain said that the company was playing by the rules as there has never been a clear definition of "what those group companies are". When asked to comment by TOI, the company took the same line. "Bharti Walmart supplies to a number of retailers. Since the FDI policy did not specifically define the term "Group Company" we believe that we have not violated the FDI policy," a company spokesperson said in an e-mailed response.
While Bharti Retail that operates stores under the Easy Day brand is owned by the Bharti group, Bharti Walmart is a joint venture with the US firm owning 100 shares beyond the 50% stake that gives it a majority stake. A third company, Walmart Technical Services is 100% owned by the retail giant and franchises technology and services to Bharti Retail. Another company, Cedar Support Services scouts for new sites for Bharti Walmart, the joint venture. So far, Bharti Walmart has around 20 stores that do the cash-and-carry business, while Bharti Retail has opened around 200 Easy Day stores.
Stay updated on the go with Times of India News App. Click here to download it for your device.
Sales by Bharti Walmart, the wholesale cash-and-carry joint venture, to Bharti
Retail, the entity that operates front-end stores, have come under the
lens after suggestions from the company that it may be in breach of the
prescribed foreign investment rules.


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With Valentine’s Day approaching, food hygiene watchdogs at Dacorum Borough Council are urging lovey-dovey diners to check the food hygiene rating of restaurants before they book their romantic meal.
Food outlets inspected to check that hygiene standards meet legal requirements are rated on a scale ranging from a top rating of 5 to the lowest of zero, which indicates that urgent improvement is necessary.
The ratings are available for anyone to view on the Food Standard Agency’s website which can be found at www.food.gov.uk/ratings .
People can also download the new Food Hygiene Rating Scheme smartphone app.
Closer to home, visit www.dacorum.gov.uk to see which food outlets in the last three months have been awarded a 4 or 5 star food hygiene rating.
Councillor Neil Harden said “Lots of people go out to celebrate at this time of year. I am pleased to say that 83 per cent) of local food businesses are rated 4 stars or above but I would urge dinners not just to consider the menu, but check the food hygiene rating as well.”


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|Texel, a Division of ADS Inc.
Needled non-woven fabrics, felts
Primary markets: America, Asia, Europe
Number of employees: 300+
Guy Drouin C.A, president
Texel achieves material success
Business experts say that among the best ways of ensuring enduring success, is to target niche areas in lower tier supply chains, with value-added products, preferably those that don’t attract too much public attention or competitors. Texel does all that. “We produce specialized fabrics used in industrial applications,” says Guy Drouin, the company’s president. “It’s a complicated business. I often have to explain several times to get people to understand it.”
The advent of lighter, stronger, inexpensive materials of the kind Texel produces, has spurred tremendous innovation in manufactured products. That’s particularly true in the automotive, road construction and medical, sectors, which Texel supplies with a range of non-woven and coated fabrics. Clients include corporations such as 3M, Johnson & Johnson, BASF and BMW.
It’s a capital intensive business. Texel recently invested $16 million to purchase equipment and expand its Sainte-Marie facility, where it now produces parts for the automotive sector, notably wheel linings and the felt interiors of trunks and rooves. The plant also produces a line of geo-synthetic products used to stabilize terrain in applications such as road construction.
Texel invests heavily in research and development at its in-house laboratory, where it maintains mini-pilot manufacturing and finishing lines that enable its experts to create and test fabrics from various fiber, resin and coating combinations. Douin, who trained as a chartered accountant, not surprisingly maintains a rigorous approach to planning and oversight, and regularly monitors real time data to track progress. “We want to grow even more during coming years,” says the seasoned veteran. “We’ve got some big investments planned.”
© 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998


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Whether it’s a global holiday or a contagious pandemic, the maritime industry never stops working to deliver daily life and convenience to every corner of the world.
As the year draws to a close, let’s look back at the series of events the maritime industry has experienced and look ahead to what’s to come.
⟩⟩ Suez Canal obstruction – March 23
The Suez Canal is considered to be the shortest link between the east and the west. About 12% of global trade, 1 million barrels of oil, and roughly 8% of liquefied natural gas pass through the canal each day.
On Mar 23, 2021, Ever Given, a 400 meters long, 224,000-ton vessel, ran aground after 40-knot winds and a sandstorm caused low visibility and poor navigation. This led to 6 days of blockage at the Suez Canal.
⟩⟩ Worst marine ecological disaster in Sri Lankan history – May 20
On 20 May 2021, X-Press Pearl caught fire off the coast of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The vessel was engulfed in flames by 27 May and declared a total loss. After burning for 12 days, the vessel sank on 2 June as it was being towed away to deeper waters. The incident was deemed the worst marine ecological disaster in Sri Lankan history for the chemical products that spilled.
⟩⟩ Annual Seafarer Day – June 25
There is no normal life without shipping, but even more importantly, there is no shipping without seafarers.
COVID-19 pandemic has brought seafarers difficult working conditions surrounding uncertainties and difficulties around port access, re-supply, crew changeovers, repatriation, etc. In light of this, IMO focused the annual seafarer campaign on urging governments to recognize seafarers as key workers and ease travel restrictions for them to facilitate crew changes.
⟩⟩ Global container freight rate hit record high – Sep 21
After 22 consecutive weeks of increases, The Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) reached its all-time peak during the midst of September this year. According to UNCTAD’s annual Review of Maritime Transportation, this upwards trend seems to continue. Reuters estimates increased transportation costs to stay up until 2023.
⟩⟩ The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) – Oct 31
The Paris Agreement aimed to reduce global warming to well below 2°C and pursue 1.5°C. But, the world is still heading for a temperature rise in excess of 3°C this century. Maritime transport accounts for 2.9% of all human-made emissions in 2018. Under a business-as-usual scenario, that figure could double by 2050. Shipping is expected to change its fuel mix and use new technology and ship designs, alternative fuels and operational adjustments to cut its carbon and environmental footprint.
In the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), 22 governments joined industry leaders to create the Clydebank Declaration, committing to creating at least 6 zero-carbon corridors along major shipping routes by the middle of the decade.
⟩⟩ Container congestion at US ports – November
The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach handles 40 percent of the country’s containerized imports. As of November 2, 2021, the Port of Los Angeles reported that it had 93 vessels waiting in queue. Altogether, these ships have a maximum carrying capacity of roughly 540,000 containers.
In October, Biden administration announced a deal to enable 24/7 operations at the Port of Los Angeles. The port also announced it will begin charging carriers for every container that sits idle over a grace period.
Tech in Review
The maritime industry has undergone a profound change since COVID-19 broke out. Customs officials, port workers, and transport operators increasingly recognize the value of new technologies and digitalization, not just as a way of boosting efficiency but also for maintaining business continuity at times of disruption. A recent report done by Thetius and Inmarsat Maritime has revealed that the pandemic has accelerated digital transformation by 3 years ahead of previous estimates.
Fleet in Review
In 2020, the global commercial shipping fleet grew by 3%, reaching 99,800 ships of 100 gross tons and above. During 2020, delivery of ships declined by 12%, partly due to lockdown induced labour shortages that disrupted marine-industrial activity.
Early 2021, shipping companies reacted to the capacity constraints with a surge of new orders, especially for container ships for which orders were the highest for the last two decades. There were also more orders for LNG carriers.
Safety in Review
Shipping losses remained at a historic low in 2020, with 49 large ships lost. Total losses down 50% over 10 years. The number of shipping incidents (2,703) declines year on year. However, the number of losses involving cargo and passenger vessels increased year on year. Analysis shows cargo vessels account for 40% of total losses over the past decade (348).
People in review
Lloyd’s List unveils the 12th edition of its Top 100 most influential people in shipping. This year’s editorial assessment of influence rested on the supply chain and the zero-carbon transformation. Those at the top of its rankings not only demonstrates the scale but also the will and desire to bring wholesale changes to an industry requiring direction and leadership at this pivotal juncture.
This article is shared by courtesy of Kaiko. Kaiko Systems prevents merchant ship incidents while optimizing operational efficiency through advanced data analysis and intelligent decision support.


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LOS ANGELES — Dozens of bottles of low-priced California wines sold under such labels as Franzia, Mogen David and Almaden contain dangerously high levels of arsenic, according to a lawsuit filed by four California residents.
The industry group Wine Institute dismissed the lawsuit as “irresponsible,” adding it has not called for any vintner to pull any of the wines named in the complaint from store shelves.
The complaint, which seeks class-action status, was filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court. It lists as defendants 28 California wineries. It also asks for unspecified damages and a halt to production of arsenic-tainted wine.
“We believe this allegation is false and misleading and that all wines being sold in the U.S. marketplace are safe,” the institute, which represents more than 1,000 California vintners and related businesses, said in a statement.
Institute spokeswoman Gladys Horiuchi said Friday that although the United States doesn’t have specific arsenic levels for wine, many other countries do. She added that California vintages have never come close to exceeding those levels.
According to the lawsuit, tests by three independent laboratories found that in some cases arsenic levels were 500 percent higher than what’s considered safe. Horiuchi said those comparisons were based on levels considered safe for drinking water, not wine.
The lawsuit’s lead attorney, Brian Kabateck, said the levels were originally found in tests done by the head of the Denver-based lab BeverageGrades.
“He decided to test 1,306 bottles of wine representing more than 75 percent of the wine consumed in the U.S.” Kabateck said Friday. “Out of those he found 83 that had excessive arsenic levels.”
The attorney added that subsequent cross-testing at two other labs confirmed the findings.
Arsenic occurs naturally in the air, soil and water in small amounts, as well as in wine and other beverages. In larger amounts, it can be deadly.
Kabateck said tests showed the arsenic found was “inorganic” or not naturally occurring. He said it might have been introduced in the vinting process. He noted nearly all of the affected wines sell for between $5 and $10 a bottle.
“Out of 1,306 tests only 83 came back,” he said. “We know that the vast majority of the wine business is safe. If you’re spending $20 on a bottle of wine you’re not going to have concerns most likely.”


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A growing number of shoppers are 'bracketing' their online purchases, creating a logistical nightmare for retailers
In a November Narvar survey, 58% of respondents said they were "bracketing" online purchases, or buying one item online in multiple sizes or colors.
China's aging population and falling birth rate mean its diaper market is nearing an inflection point, according to research by the Financial Times.
Meet the typical Gen Zer, who is quitting their job, has over $17,000 in student debt, and is influencing nearly everything you buy
Gen Z has entered the spotlight. From fashion to work, its members are setting the tone for the 2020s and poised to take over the economy in a decade.
Shoppers are bracing for a more expensive holiday season and think the economy sucks in an era of supply shortages and inflation.
I went Black Friday shopping at a Walmart and Target in Hawaii and was shocked by how few deals and people there were
I moved to Hawaii this year and thought it might be nice to look for deals in my new city. What I found was nothing like Black Fridays from my youth.
We visited 2 Walmart stores more than 2,000 miles away on Black Friday and found sparse crowds on both coasts
Both stores were calmer and emptier than a typical Black Friday morning, with no major crowds or rushes for deals.
I visited Walmart, Ulta, Lululemon, and Bath & Body Works on Black Friday and found the specialty retailers more crowded than the big box giant
Walmart was surprisingly empty, except for some customers shopping electronics, while Ulta, Lululemon, and Bath and Body Works had better showings.
Costco, Home Depot, and Target can bypass supply chain issues, set competitive prices, and lure the best workers with bonuses and perks.
The the busy holiday season can be stressful for small business owners. Here are 4 ways entrepreneurs can avoid burnout.
Many business owners are feeling burned out after an already difficult year. Here are four ways entrepreneurs can look after their mental health.
"Yelling at the cashier won't make the thing you want appear," said Ishita Kent, a bookstore sales associate.
For years, Dollar Tree was the only big dollar-store chain that stuck to a $1 price cap. Now, it's raising prices to $1.25.
It's not just sneakers anymore — the supply chain crisis is so bad that people are turning to bots to buy everything from electronics to toys
Bots were already popular with sneaker buyers, but now they're becoming more common among other tech-savvy consumers, too.
4 ways grocery stores are covering up supply chain-related product shortages — including using cardboard cutouts of food
Rather than leaving shelves bare, some grocery store owners are finding creative ways to cover up shortages.
With buy now, pay later, millennials are most likely to feel the brunt of a post-holiday 'financial hangover,' expert says
A credit analyst says younger generations are more susceptible to overspending during the holidays, but it's also possible to "splurge strategically."
Macy's wants corporate employees to work in stores over the busy holiday season, at a time where some retailers are struggling to hire enough staff
Macy's encouraged staff to volunteer for three shifts and to wear "comfortable, close-toed shoes and business casual dress," per The Washington Post.
The pandemic accelerated online retailers' need for customer data, and platforms like Shopify and TikTok made it easier to acquire
Retailers like Peloton and Dollar General know that customer data is the key to building brand loyalty and the seamless experience shoppers want.
Supply chain issues mean some products won't arrive in time for the holidays, creating chances for TJ Maxx to buy excess stock from other retailers.
UK fast-fashion giant Primark, described as the Costco for clothes, is plotting rapid US expansion and wooing shoppers with rock-bottom prices
The low-cost European clothing chain said Tuesday that it plans to increase its store network to 60 locations in the US in the next five years.
Pinterest is the latest company to tap into the $25 billion livestream shopping market. Here's how entrepreneurs are making thousands of dollars per stream.
Small businesses and resellers are using livestream shows to personally connect with customers and get a piece of the $6 billion market.
Some businesses are making sure their companies avoid single-use plastic, remove unnecessary packaging, and use renewable materials.


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Uber Technologies is set to Provide over $3 billion to Purchase Dubai-based rival Careem Networks FZ, two sources Knowledgeable about the deal told Reuters.
Uber’s provide could be unveiled during the early part of this week, a third source added.
Uber will pay $1.4 billion in cash and $1.7 billion in convertible notes, which will be convertible into Uber shares at a price equal to $55 per share, Bloomberg had earlier reported, citing a term-sheet.
Careem declined comment while Uber did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters to remark.
Uber has been preparing for an initial public offering, and its shareholders have indicated that it could be valued at up to $120 billion.
The US-based global logistics and transportation company has been searching for new avenues of growth even as it faces severe competition in its core business of ride-hailing from rivals such as Lyft.
The IPOs of Lyft and Uber represent a landmark for Silicon Valley’s tech unicorns, which for years have snubbed the stock market in favor of raising capital privately, with investors pleased to back their valuations.


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MMOHuts Weekly Recap #84 May 6 – League of Legends, Rusty Hearts, Elder Scrolls, & More
A quick look and discussion for every major announcement and update during the week! This week we discussed updates from the following games: League of Legends, Rusty Hearts, Elder Scrolls Online, Renaissance Heroes, Brawl Busters and Family Guy Online. The biggest news this week comes from the announcement that Bethesda the company behind the Elder Scroll series, announced The Elder Scrolls Online a MMORPG set in the TES universe. No word on whether the game is going to be F2P but early reports of the game show signs that it will not follow the same style of play that its predecessors followed. You can view all the individual news articles mention over at the MMOHuts.com News section.
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Make it quick.
Verizon is pumping up the volume about its three year deal with Corning to spend $1.05 billion on “fiber optic cable and associated hardware”. It even got a congratulatory (and self-congratulatory) press release from Federal Communications Commission chairman Ajit Pai. As it should It’s a big commitment and will add a considerable amount of potential bandwidth to the U.S. supply.
Verizon also claims that it will be buying “up to” 20 million kilometers (12.4 million miles, it helpfully adds) of “optical fiber” each year, from 2018 through 2020.… More


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Developer Codemasters has temporarily removed the 3D Audio feature for headphones from the PS5 version of F1 2021. The studio states that this is happening due to audio issues, but does not provide details. It is unknown when the feature will return.
“3D Audio for Headphones is temporarily disabled on PS5,” the studio writes in update 1.06 patch notes on the website of publisher and parent company EA. “This feature will be re-enabled once the related audio issues are resolved.” It is not known what kind of problems the function had to deal with. Update 1.06 also fixes several bugs, among other fixes and tweaks.
It is the second time Codemasters has had to disable a feature from F1 2021 in the PS5 version. Last month, the studio temporarily disabled ray tracing for that release of the game, stating it was necessary due to performance issues. The feature was reintroduced a week later, in update 1.05.
F1 2021 will be released on July 16 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. In addition to the annual updates to cars and drivers, the game includes a new Braking Point story mode and a career mode with co-op. Players can also start a career at any time based on their current standings in the real F1 championship.


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As usual, speculation over the groundbreaking features and technologies that next-gen iPhones could implement to stay ahead of the curve have started to go off the rails lately, as analysts, tipsters and so-called insiders run out of realistic things to talk about, and there’s still so much time left.
Of course, with last year’s incremental iPhone 7 and 7 Plus following an iterative 6s generation back in 2015, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that Apple may indeed look for a radical redesign and major upgrade this time around.
One with not just an OLED screen (or three), but an OLED covering the entire front surface, a “function area” of sorts included, all-glass (or at least mostly-glass) construction, wireless charging capabilities (the inductive kind, presumably), and yes, even “3D facial recognition” in tow, combining for a prohibitive yet actually justifiable $1,000+ price point.
Justifiable knowing Cupertino’s thirst for hefty profit margins, that is, since an esteemed senior analyst from financial giant JPMorgan Chase assesses the production cost of the prospective new “3D laser scanner” at $10 to $15 per module. Furthermore, Rod Hall believes the face-scanning component might replace the aging Touch ID sensor, which was obviously cheaper to make, but would still cost a few bucks a phone.
Another theory is that the iPhone 8, sometimes called X by various sources, could sport both a fingerprint and facial recognition method, aiming to double down on biometric authentication security before eventually supporting “compelling AR/VR experiences.”


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Zillow announced Friday morning that it has wrapped up its much-debated acquisition of ShowingTime, even as a new report indicated antitrust officials are continuing to investigate the deal.
The deal was first announced in February and will see Zillow take over ShowingTime for $500 million. Among other things ShowingTime helps agents coordinate and manage their home showing appointments, and Zillow plans to continue operating the company as a stand-alone brand. ShowingTime also will remain available to all real estate professionals, rather than just those that partner with the portal.
During a call this week with Inman, ShowingTime President Michael Lane — who along with the rest of the company’s executive team will remain at ShowingTime post-acquisition — said “we feel like we have a great cultural fit with their team.”
“We’ve got a common vision with the Zillow team as far as where we want to go with the products,” Lane added.
While the closing of the deal is welcome news for Zillow and ShowingTime, something of a cloud hung over Friday’s announcement after a report surfaced indicating government regulators hadn’t fully signed off on the acquisition. The report, out Thursday evening from news website The Information, indicated that Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lawyers had previously given Zillow and ShowingTime the go-ahead in June. However, two weeks ago, new FTC Chair Lina Khan revived her agency’s review of the deal.
The report cites unnamed sources and indicates government officials are looking into Zillow’s control of data, how it maintains its dominance in online home search, and if Zillow’s website could give preferential treatment to certain listings. The FTC also told Zillow and ShowingTime that they could complete their deal at their own risk, according to The Information‘s sources.
The FTC first began looking into the deal earlier this year, and in the time since two Republican lawmakers have also pushed the agency to investigate the acquisition.
When Inman asked the FTC about the situation Thursday, a spokesperson responded that the agency “does not comment on nor confirm the existence of investigations, so we have no comment.”
During a call that took place this week before The Information report was published, Errol Samuelson — Zillow’s chief industry development officer — told Inman that it’s common for the FTC to examine deals involving companies as large as Zillow. He also said the deal has gone through an “HSR waiting period,” which requires companies to wait before closing on an acquisition while regulators review the case. And the deal went through an FTC “Second Request,” which can extend the waiting period so the government can gather additional information.
A statement from a Zillow spokesperson Thursday evening confirmed that the company complied with both the Second Request and HSR waiting period.
“We’ve been, and will continue to be, open and transparent with the FTC throughout its review process and intend to continue to cooperate fully with all appropriate procedures,” the statement continues. “We believe a robust, competitive real estate market best serves consumers and are looking forward to ShowingTime helping improve the home touring experience for customers and partners across the industry.”
It’s unclear what, if anything, will come from the apparently revived review of the deal. However, Khan — who assumed office in June — made her name as a law student by arguing for stronger antitrust regulations. She has since become known for cracking down on technology companies.
To some extent, the questions the FTC is exploring parallel those raised by real estate professionals in the wake of the announced deal between ShowingTime and Zillow. At the time, many agents expressed concern that by buying ShowingTime — which is widely used in the industry — Zillow would suddenly get access to private data.
For its part, Zillow said that it plans to keep ShowingTime’s existing data privacy policies in place. Samuelson reiterated that point this week, telling Inman that “we’re going to make sure it’s a fair and equitable system for everyone.”
“We very much respect the privacy of people using the platform,” he said. At another point in the conversation he argued that “for this platform to deliver benefits to buyers and sellers and their agents, it has to be an open platform,” meaning it has to be available to anyone in the industry.
Samuelson also said the showing management landscape right now is defined by “robust competition,” which he added is “great because it’s going to keep us on our toes.”
Lane agreed and noted that the existence of other companies in the segment “totally validates the importance of this part of the real estate homebuying experience.”
The comments allude to the ever-expanding roster of showing management platforms. That roster grew particularly dense after Zillow and ShowingTime first announced their deal back in February. Within days, a slew of startups and technology companies announced showing platforms in varying stages of completion. The goal of those companies was to capitalize on discontent among agents and brokers who didn’t want to continue using ShowingTime after it joined Zillow.
But it remains to be seen just how material that discontent really was. While speaking to Inman this week, Lane said it’s difficult to quantify the overall size of the showing management market because many showings are still scheduled offline or informally. That said, Lane believes ShowingTime may be used in as many as half of U.S. home showing appointments.
Lane also said ShowingTime has handled 84 million showing requests over the past 12 months, 63 million of which translated into actual home showings. And he said that subscriptions has surged this year.
“This has been maybe our best year ever,” he added.
The comments suggest that despite a sometimes-heated debate over the Zillow-ShowingTime deal, the real estate industry has not generally abandoned the latter company.
For now, the two companies expect to continue business as usual. Lane said ShowingTime will continue to unveil scheduled new products, but for the time being “we don’t have any immediate changes planned around the business model.”
“There’s still a great amount of innovation ahead,” he added. “It’s the perfect time for this deal to be done.”
Samuelson was similarly upbeat.
“Our hope is that we can help contribute to ShowingTime’s success,” he said, “and continue to be a great partner to agents, brokers, and [multiple listing services] in the industry.”


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This week the Council amended regulations (EC) No 1292/2007 and (EC) No 367/2006 pertaining to imports of PET film from India, Brazil and Israel. It granted SZP an exemption from these regulations, which impose significant charges on PET film being resold onto the EU market.
A spokesperson for SZP said the anti-dumping rules had been a problem for the company resulting in checks at customs that would take time and cause delays. The spokesperson added that its exemption from the rules is very significant for the company in opening up the EU market.
SZP lobbied for a review arguing that it is a genuine producer of PET products and not a reseller.
Following a review, EU investigators agreed with the Israeli company, ruling that it has not engaged in “circumvention practices” and should be exempted from the anti-dumping and counterveiling measures in force.
The EU investigation found no evidence that SZP was purchasing film from India to later resell it to countries in the Union.
The investigation also found that the raw material bought from India was used in the manufacture of PET products with other raw materials purchased domestically. It was not considered that the material was bought with the intention of circumventing trade rules.
Anti-dumping laws extended
The exemption was granted to SZP after the EU extended its anti-dumping measures in June to impose import tariffs on PET shipments from Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The measures were outlined in Regulation (EU) 472/2010 after an investigation found that companies from the Middle Eastern countries had been selling PET into the EU at below market prices.
While the Commission acknowledged the ruling could see converters suffer it said any negative effects for them would be “outweighed by the expected benefits for the producers and their suppliers”.


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FRANKFURT (MarketWatch) -- German cosmetics company Beiersdorf AG BEI, +0.00% was downgraded Friday to underperform from hold at Jefferies International, which also cut its price target on the stock to 39 euros ($51) from 46 euros. The downgrade comes after the firm reported a "poor set" of second-quarter results, the broker said. "Market share losses in its core German franchise with broadly reported rising competitive pricing across the board within the skin category suggest Beiersdorf will be challenged to regain market share medium term," Jefferies said.
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Oil lubricates trade and mutual influence
China and Saudi Arabia: just good friends
Saudi Arabia has never forgotten that China stood by it when it was threatened during the Iran-Iraq war. That, and the Saudi desire to ensure future sales of oil, and the Chinese need for supplies, is the basis for fast-growing trade and other links
by Alain Gresh
There is a neon sign along the motorway near Riyadh in Saudi Arabia advertising a huge new mall, China Mart, that recently opened to sell thousands of products direct from the People’s Republic. The Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that 322 Muslims from Gansu province had arrived in Saudi (...)
This article is 2809 words.


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February 2021 marks the 15th anniversary of the beloved Spice & Wolf series
Commemorate the occasion with special anniversary goods that are now available for preorder on our online shop
Spice and Wolf started as a light novel series by Isuna Hasekura that was published by Dengeki Bunko. Over 5 million copies of the books have been printed, with the series winning the 12th annual Dengeki Novel Award in 2005. A TV anime adaptation started airing in January 2008, with seiyuu Jun Fukuyama as Kraft Lawrence and Ami Koshimizu as Holo.
Jyuu Ayakura created the new illustrations featuring Holo in a traditional Indian outfit for the new 15th anniversary merchandise. If you're a fan of the series then you can't miss these exclusive goods🦊


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Pall-Ex is driving into a new era with a strengthened senior management team at the wheel following two major appointments. The logistics giant has appointed former Palletways network development director, Barry Byers, as new UK Managing Director, while Martin Rantle has been named Non-Executive Chairman, after previously serving as vice president of sales for DHL.
Critical and key issues in material handling, logistics and distribution
Critical issues are thought provoking articles relating to strategy,legislation,technology,best practice and the some of the most challenging business topics in the world of material handling.The articles in this section have been contributed by senior industry leaders, research analysts, trade associations such as the UKWA (United Kingdom Warehousing Association) BIFA (British International Freight Association), the FTA (Freight Transport Association) and the FLTA ( ForkLift Truck Association), as well as many others.
Other important topics covered in this section concern Health and Safety in Logistics with articles from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).Taxation, government policy,climate change,recruitment and training schemes are all covered, as well as educational opportunities at various UK logistics educational facilities such at Cranfield University.
Dec 23, 2019 Comments (0)
Pall-Ex has teamed up with De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) to help tackle the logistics industry’s nationwide skills shortage.The palletised freight network has tasked second year marketing students with developing creative ideas to promote careers in the logistics sector to young people aged 16 to 24.
Dec 21, 2019 Comments (0)
Professional salaries in the UK are expected to increase by at least 3% in 2020 – following two years of pay freezes. With over half of UK professionals believing that their pay is not an accurate reflection of the work they do – news of salary increases above 2020 inflation rates (1.94%) will be warmly welcomed.
Dec 17, 2019 Comments (0)
In the backdrop of increasing demand for compact and cost-efficient protective packaging solutions, the growth outlook of global padded mailers market will remain positive during the forecast period (2019 - 2029). A new study projects healthy 5% CAGR for padded mailer sales during the period of projection.
Dec 13, 2019 Comments (0)
The majority of workers resort to borrowing to cover the cost of Christmas. Research from Hastee study finds 71% of workers in the UK and Ireland source additional funds during the festive period and 61% admit Christmas-related financial stress impacts their performance at work.
Dec 12, 2019 Comments (0)
The December 2019 edition of Manufacturing & Logistics IT features a Special Technology Report on Digital Transformation.
For this report, we spoke with experts from the vendor and analyst communities about recent trends and ongoing areas of development within the world of Digital Transformation, and what users can potentially look forward to in the not too distant future.
Dec 04, 2019 Comments (0)
Rockwell Automation continues to add to its list of achievements in industrial cybersecurity to help industrial companies focus more on transforming their business and worry less about potential cybersecurity risks. The company recently received ISA/IEC 62443-2-4 certification, which defines security requirements for service providers.
Dec 03, 2019 Comments (0)
Commercial vehicle operators are struggling to decipher their brake test reports, according to the Freight Transport Association (FTA). To help operators understand the complex documents, FTA has launched an online guide titled Brake test report.
Establishing end-to-end control of product labelling & customer-facing materials: 5 focal points for improvement for the year ahead
Nov 26, 2019 Comments (0)
By Graham Francis, Channel Marketing Manager at global enterprise labelling solutions company Kallik.
In heavily regulated industries - including medical device manufacture, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and cosmetics - demand is intensifying for accurate, compliant and contextually-relevant product labelling.
Nov 19, 2019 Comments (0)
A more circular approach to plastic packaging will be key to hitting ambitious international plastic recycling targets, says a prominent packaging machinery supplier.


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REE Automotive’s REEcorner technology has been awarded GBP12.5m (US$17m) funding from the UK government as part of a GBP41.2m investment, coordinated through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC).
The award follows an intensive vetting and selection process from which REE’s project and three others were selected among dozens of companies.
Together, the four initiatives could save nearly 32m tons of carbon emissions, which is equivalent to the lifetime tailpipe emissions of 1.3m cars. The investment will help drive energy-saving technology across a wide range of vehicles.
The UK funds will allow REE to facilitate commercial production of its REEcorner technology and ultra-modular electric vehicle platforms, including engineering design, validation, verification and testing, as well as product homologation.
REEcorner technology packs vehicle components (for example, steering, braking, suspension, powertrain and control) into a single module located between the chassis and the wheel, enabling fully-flat EV platforms. REE’s ultra-modular EV platforms are designed to offer enhanced payload capacity by providing more room for carrying passengers, cargo and batteries and body design flexibility, as well as autonomous capability.
“These projects tackle some really important challenges in the journey to net-zero road transport,” said APC chief executive, Ian Constance.
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“They address range anxiety and cost, which can be a barrier to people making the switch to electric vehicles and they also provide potential solutions to the challenge of how we decarbonise public transport and the movement of goods.
“By investing in this innovation, we’re taking these technologies closer to the point where they are commercially viable, which will strengthen the UK’s automotive supply chain, safeguard or create jobs and reduce harmful greenhouse emissions.”
For his part, REE COO, Mike Charlton, added: “REE is honoured to have been selected as recipient of the UK funding to support REE investment in the UK automotive ecosystem following an extensive vetting and selection process.
“With the opening of our Engineering Centre in the UK in February this year, this reaffirms our commitment to the region and is in line with our plans for the mass production of our REEcorner and electric vehicle platform technology.
“The UK is an ideal location for a pioneering automotive company like REE thanks to the country’s commitment to vehicle electrification, which dovetails with our vision of propelling a zero-emissions, greener future for our generation and those to come.”


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Snopes, the fact-checking website that once focused on debunking flimsy internet rumors but has expanded into a 16-person operation that calls out political leaders for dishonesty, is locked in a legal battle that it says has drained the money it needs to survive.
The site, which gets all of its revenue from advertising, created a crowdfunding page on Monday, raising $500,000 from readers in one day to remain operational indefinitely. It says that Proper Media, the vendor that runs its advertising services, has withheld the site’s revenue and has refused to relinquish control of the site. That leaves Bardav — the company that owns and operates Snopes — with no way of moving the site to a new host or installing its own ads, said David Mikkelson, a founder of the site.
“We have had no income whatsoever for the last several months,” Mr. Mikkelson said in an interview on Monday.
When asked how long the site could last without a successful fund-raising drive or legal victory, Mr. Mikkelson responded: “Not a whole lot longer.”


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Sony registers Battle Royale Vita domain [Update]
More signs of a PlayStation All-Stars on Vita.
If hints from the development team and its appearance on a resume weren’t enough, a new domain name registered by Sony recently provide further confirmation of PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale‘s imminent appearance on PlayStation Vita.
Discovered by Superannuation, Sony on May 24 registered the domain BattleRoyaleTheGameVita.com.
I take it we can expect an E3 announcement, then?
Update: Looks like they’ve also registered PlayStationAllStarsVita.com, PS-AllStarsVita.com, PSAllStarsBattleRoyaleVita.com, and PSAllStarsVita.com, as well.


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The Xiaomi Pad 5 tablet and Xiaomi Smart Pen have been released together with the Xiaomi 11T series at the company’s global event today. With a refresh rate of 120 Hz, the tablet is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 processor and offers up to
The Jio Phone Next mobile phone will launched on 10 September, 2021. The phone has a touchscreen display. In terms of cameras, the rear camera was provided in Jio Phone Next. Jio Phone Next is based on Android. Jio Phone Next is a dual SIM
There are currently more and more user reports of a sudden failure of Apple HomePod. Clues indicate beta issues and the current software version. The interaction with Apple TV and the stereo in particular seems problematic. Earlier we had reports of an overheating issue in
Micromax made a comeback last year with the launch of serial smartphones. Now, the brand intends to launch another device called Micromax IN 2C. Last month, the device visited the Geekbench platform. Now, a report has revealed the launch date of the upcoming Micromax smartphone.
Nikon has launched the retro looking Nikon Z fc camera. This is a DX preview camera with a 20.9 megapixel sensor. It offers the latest technology and features packed in a vintage body. The Nikon Z fc has the latest camera features for self-portraits, video
TeamGroup today announced the launch of its brand new T-Force Cardia Z44Q PCIe 4.0 SSD with two patented cooling modules, QLC Flash and PCIe Gen 4 × 4 interfaces that support the latest NVMe 1.4 standard and support up to 4X HDRs. Offers immense potential.
Vivo is best known for its flashy Android phones, but it looks like the Chinese technology company is planning to launch a bigger device in the not-too-distant future: a trademark for the Vivo Pad registered with the European Union. Has been done. Intellectual Property Office
Launch date of Honor 50 The Honor 50 series will launch on June 16th. This was confirmed by Bhavya, who is the senior public relations manager at Honor. A teaser photo posted on Twitter and a video uploaded to Chinese social networking site Weibo seem
Until recently, Apple Watch users could only stream their favorite songs, podcasts, and playlists to their Apple watches. Starting May 21, they will be able to download and listen to their favorite songs and podcasts via the device. Spotify has announced that Apple Watch will
Amazon is back again with the iteration of the second generation thanks to its common echo buds. The wireless headphone market is growing and Amazon is smart enough to take advantage of this opportunity. They have released the second generation of Eco Buds and many


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Canopy Growth, Aurora, HEXO and West Coast Ventures Corp. (OTC: WCVC) show how profitable the cannabis business can be, but it also causes tension with Californian wine growers
By 2025, the legal cannabis market could reach between $100 billion and $200 billion worldwide. Despite the potential the business represents, cannabis is also a source of tension.
Why the cannabis market is a success
A year ago, Canada decided to follow Uruguay and some American states by legalizing the use of recreational cannabis. A decision that quickly enabled the country of the Great White North to become a world leader in the production of legal marijuana. Eight of the ten largest global companies involved in cannabis cultivation are Canadian.
Among them, three mastodons stand out today: Canopy Growth, Aurora and HEXO. Companies that, in addition to marketing their products in the country, do so wherever the sale of cannabis is legalized. This is the case in Uruguay, the United States, India and South Africa. But also countries such as Brazil, Spain, Italy, Greece, Greece and Australia, to name but a few, where cannabis consumption and/or cultivation is at least partially decriminalized (in the sense that it remains officially illegal, but tolerated or subject to much less severe penalties). To date, 35 countries are in this situation.
However, smaller companies also capitalize on the cannabis boom. West Coast Ventures Corp. (OTC: WCVC) recently became America’s first CBD restaurant stock, by successfully combining fast-casual dining and CBD sectors. The company recorded an impressive $3,054.623 revenue in the first year of operations (2018) and expects to exceed it in the next few years. In the first quarter of 2019 the revenue grew by 21.55% which is usually considered a slow quarter. The sales in quarter two are on pace to hit an even higher score.
500 million and 2 billion euros for France
Given the market for cannabis, the growth prospects for marijuana players are bound to be appetizing. In France, if therapeutic cannabis were legalized, the market could fluctuate between 500 million and 2 billion euros, observers estimate.
Not to mention that the sector is growing on a global scale that many sectors could envy. On average, analysts estimate that the annual growth rate of this market should be around 30% by 2030. On paper, cannabis is positioning itself in a market that is still in its infancy but is already proving particularly lucrative. Especially as the phenomenon continues to spread around the world and is beginning to whet investors’ appetites.
The cannabis market under tension
The fact is that behind this incredible growth there are already some problems. Starting with the fear of speculative fever, many analysts consider that a financial bubble is swelling and that the explosion of the marijuana market is not far away. This is because this is a new and flourishing sector which, although it may well grow over time, is not the market of the century like oil for example.
In the United States, cannabis is also a source of tensions of a completely different kind. California wine growers are currently waging a merciless war against marijuana growers.
For what reason? Because the odours emitted by cannabis plants are considered unpleasant and harmful to the wine-growing slopes of the region. As a result, the atmosphere between West Coast wine growers and marijuana growers is not pleasant. In addition, they argue that cannabis plants visibly pollute the landscape. This is something that the Californian wine industry deplores.
Also, at a time when the green wave of cold weather is spreading all over the world, marijuana growing is nowadays not only facing fears of a loss of market power, but also those of other industries that see cannabis as a business that can burn theirs.


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Luc Julia, the former Apple software engineer who was in charge of developing the company’s Siri virtual assistant, is now working at Samsung on SAMI, a platform that is looking to aggregate and distribute data from Internet connected devices. Julia is now vice president at Samsung’s Open Innovation Center where he showed off an early build of the Samsung Architecture for Multimodal Interactions (SAMI).
Once the platform is built out, SAMI is said to be able to access data from wearable computers, “smart home” devices, cars and more, then spit out results as a normalized feed. As part of the demonstration, Julia generated data onstage by running around with various fitness trackers attached to his body, with all the information being funneled through a single app. Interestingly enough, the system appears to feature a type of virtual assistant component similar to that of Apple’s Siri. The system appears to feature a type of virtual assistant component much like Apple’s Siri.
Apple’s Siri as many of you know fetches data and aggregates data as well, although the assistant is iOS-only. SAMI, on the other hand is said to be more open. Samsung is currently working with several partners to develop the technology further including Fitbit, Pebble and Withings, among many others. Altogether, roughly 50 companies are part of SAMI’s development and testing. Samsung is attempting to “normalize” the data from various products and offer it up in a feed available to other apps with SAMI. Julia said the following regarding the matter:
We're doing this normalization and delivering the data through an API, because people don't want to learn all the APIs for all the individual products.
It's something Samsung doesn't know very well today, because Samsung is a hardware company. But we want to enter the space, and offer something different from iCloud.


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Disney fans rejoice.
For $15 a month, you'll be able to watch some of your favorite Disney shows and movies using a new streaming service, DisneyLife.
There's just one catch. The service will only be available in the UK, for now.
Launching next month, the streaming service include episodes of Disney channel shows, albums, books, and of course, movies. While the entire Pixar collection will be available, other titles, including Marvel movies and the "Star Wars" series, will not, the Financial Times reports.
DisneyLife users will also be able to download items to watch and read offline. Movies and books will be available in five languages, according to a press release.
The company hopes to expand the service to other European countries, including Italy and Spain, and continue to add new content to DisneyLife as it grows.
As for US fans, the company does not intend to bring the service to the states for now, due to possible conflicts with American cable providers and television networks, Disney's chief executive, Bob Iger, said.
United States residents will have to use other streaming services to get their Disney fix. Disney Movies Anywhere, a cloud-based digital movie service, offers tons of classic films for purchase.
And in case you're not looking to pay for yet another service, there's always "The Aristocats," which is currently available in Netflix.


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As we've mentioned elsewhere on Pure Xbox, GoldenEye 007 won't be getting online multiplayer on Xbox when it hits Game Pass in the near future, and a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed this in a statement earlier today.
Here's the statement in full, which was provided to Video Games Chronicle:
“Xbox is excited to bring GoldenEye 007 to Xbox Game Pass for the very first time – a faithful recreation of a much-loved and iconic title."
“While there are no plans to include online multiplayer as part of GoldenEye 007 on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox is focused on bringing this title to players in the way they fondly remember, including local multiplayer mode, allowing up to four players to take to the couch in a battle of wits and skill.”
So, there you have it. Unfortunately, online multiplayer won't be included in GoldenEye 007 when it arrives on Xbox Game Pass, and it sounds like it won't be getting patched into the game at a later date either. Local multiplayer it is, then!
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know down in the comments section below.


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Monday, August 21, 2006
Trendy Village Seeks To Banish The Pleasingly Plump
According to reports, a trendy Chicago suburb voted "the sexiest suburb in America" may be on the verge of banishing from its venues of commerce those not conforming to arbitrarily contrived body aesthetics.
Lane Bryant, a retailer known for marketing clothing to full-sized women, has been denied the opportunity to open a store in a development called "The Village Of Oak Park".
Before the hypercapitalists decide to slit my throat as they are wont to do whenever anyone dares to question a decision made by big business, it must be noted that the decision to deny Lane Bryant the retail space was not made by a private sector firm or entrepreneur but rather by the committee managing the village, an entity quasigovernmental in nature.
The bureaucratic mouthpiece for the community association told the press that, "Lane Bryant is not the kind or quality of shop that is desire for development," and, "We want a more broad based retailer benefiting the village, rather than a niche market."
In other words, "Fat chicks, keep out." For unless the Village --- a term as almost as nauseating as COMMUNITY as it is usually invoked by an insular elite out to micromangage the lives of those residing in a particular locality --- is planning to open a Wal-Mart or a Target (places these Communitarian types despise even more than the overweight), by definition the retailer would otherwise serve a niche market...........................
Click HERE To Read On


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In any walk of life, whenever you get government intervention you’re likely to get some bumps in the road.
Today, the government announced the reduction in the Plug-In Car Grant from £3,000 to £2,500. Whilst this was seen in some quarters to be a shrewd move in advancing the UK’s mission to net zero by making it more widely available, it will hit some sectors of our industry, and penalise those who may have been thinking of getting a high-end model. So is it good, bad, ugly, or other?
Up until now you could claim £3,000 when purchasing a new Plug-In car, but now that has been reduced by £500 and the government has reduced the maximum priced cars qualifying for the grant to £35,000.
Why have they done this? According to the government, it targets less expensive models and reflects a greater range of affordable vehicles available, allowing the scheme’s funding to go further and help more people who may not have been able to afford an EV beforehand make the switch.
The number of electric car models priced under £35,000 has increased by almost 50% since 2019 and more than half the models currently on the market will still be eligible for the grant.
Government measures to encourage people to switch to electric vehicles are also working, with nearly 11% of new cars sold in 2020 having a plug.
This was up from just over 3% in 2019 – and battery electric car sales almost tripled over that same period.
The target to ban sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2030 is certainly punchy, and governments globally have recognised the need to introduce incentive schemes like this for greater adoption of EVs.
Will a reduction in this particular scheme allow for others to come into play? Could it lead to a cut in VAT for new, second-hand and leasing Plug-In vehicles, following the Norwegian model which has seen them become global leaders in EV adoption?
Don’t be put off when you see that the grant has been cut – it’s more than likely you’ll still be in a good position to qualify for the grant when you buy your next car.
But if we’re serious about universal EV adoption for individuals, car leasing companies and company fleets, further incentives must still be considered.
18 March 2021


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Hooded Horse has announced that it has signed a contract with Empires of the Undergrowth, a real-time strategy and simulation game developed by Slug Disco Studios in which players lead an ant colony to greatness in an underground world.
Empires of the Undergrowth has benefited from an active early access period over the past five years, with a lot of support and additions. With new species such as fire ants and leaf cutter ants, game modes such as auto combat style tug of war, and many new maps, this unique real-time strategy game has evolved and gotten better over time. Hooded Horse will bring in its marketing expertise as the game approaches version 1.0.
“Empires of the Undergrowth is using a new theme to innovate several fundamental principles of base building and RTS games,” said Tim Bender, CEO of Hooded Horse. “I can’t express how excited we are to work with the amazing Slug Disco team.”
Empires of the Undergrowth is available in Early Access on PC via Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store.
Empires of the Undergrowth has been translated into German, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, RussianFrench, Czech, Dutch, Japanese, Korean and Polish.
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